[Tlc] FW: Pavin: Thailand's War on Drugs

Tue Apr 1 19:40:19 PDT 2008

Thank you for the information.

  I made mistake with my last Siam emailing; 
  so I am resending the new PetitionOnLine for returning to Siam and Thonburi. Click to see and sign it, if you please:
http://www.petitiononline.com/SIAM2008/petition.html

The previous Siam PetitionOnLine may be found at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?siam2007&1

Michael Montesano <seamm at nus.edu.sg> wrote:
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  THE STRAITS TIMES
  April 1, 2008

  THAILAND'S WAR ON DRUGS: A potentially disastrous weapon
  By Pavin Chachavalpongpun

  THE Thai government recently announced a new 'war on drugs', to be launched this month, to curb an alarming surge in the flow of narcotics through the kingdom. 
The first 'war on drugs' was launched by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003. Human rights groups claim that this 'war' led to the extra-judicial killing of more than 2,500 people. 
The Thai government estimates that 1.9 million people were either buying or selling illicit drugs in 2003. Thaksin's tough measures brought that number down to 450,000, but this rose to 570,000 last year. 
The increasing availability of drugs - mostly methamphetamines, known locally as yaa baa - has been evident since the military coup of September 2006. The relaxation of measures since then has contributed to a rise in the cultivation and production of narcotics in Thailand. 
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says poppy cultivation in Thailand rose by 30 per cent during the period, from 157ha in 2006 to 205ha last year. 
But Bangkok's latest 'war on drugs' is aimed not only at eliminating deadly drugs, but also at strengthening the power of its political elite. When Thaksin inaugurated his anti-drug campaign, there was little resistance among Thais. Indeed, support for the 'war' indicates that the Thai understanding of human rights is at odds with that of the West. 
The Samak Sundaravej government has portrayed its own 'war on drugs' as a follow-up to that of Thaksin's. The ex-premier remains immensely popular among Thais in the rural areas. By linking the latest 'war' to Thaksin's, the government hopes to reaffirm its political legitimacy. 
Of more concern, to make the 'war' appear justifiable, the government has released statistics purporting to show a correlation between drug trafficking and the on-going insurgency in southern Thailand. 
About 40 per cent of drug traffickers, it is claimed, come from suburban Bangkok and the Muslim-majority southern provinces. Such statistics might further alienate Muslims by locating them out of the realm of Thai morality. 
Muslim insurgents could end up being depicted not only as troublesome irredentists but also as drug traders who deserve to be dealt with by stiff measures, including perhaps extra-judicial killings. 
The renewal of the 'war on drugs' will likely elicit a chorus of disapproval from the international community, particularly human rights groups. The question is how Thailand can balance the eradication of drugs with the protection of human rights. Recent statements indicate that the correct balance is unlikely to be found. 
Premier Samak has said: 'My government will decisively implement a policy against drug trafficking. Government officials must implement this policy 24 hours a day, but I will not set a target of how many people should die.' 
Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has said: 'When we implement a policy that may bring 3,000 to 4,000 bodies, we will do it.' 
Drugs have long been a destabilising force in Thai society. Many young people have fallen prey to drugs and this situation undoubtedly threatens the well-being of the nation. The widespread use of narcotics has also tarnished Thailand's reputation. It is perceived by foreigners as a place where drugs are treated as commodities of everyday life. The eradication of drugs has to be a national priority. 
But if this fresh anti-drug drive has been launched mainly for political reasons - to cement the government's mandate or to divert public attention from bad policies or to prosecute Muslims in the south - then the consequences could be catastrophic. 
It could generate a climate of fear, violence and insecurity as well as further delay the country's economic recovery. 
It could then become a bone of contention between Thailand and human rights groups worldwide, especially if it is waged as carelessly as was the previous one. 
The writer is a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

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